How to Create A Successful OME Festival Application - From a Programming Perspective

The OME Festival application is made up of two main sections. The first includes information about your ensemble/solo project and your proposed program, and the second includes details about all of the tech, equipment, and instruments needed to make your program possible. 

A strong program proposal is the first and most vital step in the process of crafting a successful application. While we are obviously looking to feature artists who demonstrate a high level of musicianship, the ability to present a unique and thoughtfully constructed program proposal is the most significant deciding factor in the selection process. In creating your application, it is important to keep in mind that this is a festival, not a music competition. While each application will be scored during the review process, the aim of this process is to curate more than it is to judge. Final programming decisions are made according to the following goals of the Festival: 

1. Highlighting a talented and diverse group of musicians and composers.

2. Showcasing a wide variety of instruments and voice-types.

3. Presenting a compelling collection of programs that represents the large stylistic spectrum of contemporary and experimental classical music.

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Some additional tips for successfully executing the programming details of your application:

1. Carefully read and fully respond to all application questions. Be as detailed and specific as possible! Vague responses drastically increase the likelihood of your application receiving a low score or being disqualified.
2. Include as many audio and/or video samples of your proposed program as possible. It is difficult to determine how your program may fit into the larger scope of the festival if we don’t have a clear picture of what your program will be.
3. Make sure your proposed program stays within our parameters for program length - minimum of 20 minutes of music and a max of 40 minutes from the start of your first piece to the end of your last. 
4. If there is a missed opportunity for composer/performer diversity in your program, this will decrease your chances of being selected. (If you are a composer/musician from a historically non-underrepresented group and you are proposing to present your own works, this would not be considered a missed opportunity. If you are a musician from a historically non-underrepresented group and there are no composers from underrepresented groups on your program, this would be considered a missed opportunity).

When in doubt, ask questions! Look over the application early and send any questions to amber@ohmyears.org at least one week prior to the submission deadline.